Robert L. Danner, MD

BA, Johns Hopkins University
MD, Cornell University

Dr. Danner became a Senior Investigator at NIH in 1988 and holds the rank of Clinical Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. In addition to the Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Danner attends on the Infectious Diseases Consult Service of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He is a longstanding member of the NIH Clinical Center Ethics Committee and more recently joined the Pediatric Care Committee.

He has served as a Special Consultant to the Food and Drug Administration and on their Anti-Infective Drug Products Advisory Committee. He has also served on the Editorial Board of Critical Care Medicine, the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Infectious Diseases and the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Continuing Education Committee. Dr. Danner is a past Chair of the Critical Care Medicine Test Committee and a former Director on the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a founding member of the U.S. Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group (USCIITG) and served on their Organizing and Steering Committees. Dr. Danner has advised the Brookings Council on Antibacterial Drug Development at the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

Dr. Danner received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Johns Hopkins University and his degree in Medicine from Cornell University. He then completed residency training in Internal Medicine at New York Hospital / Cornell University Medical Center. Fellowship training in Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Diseases was completed at the NIH and Children's National Medical Center.

Septic shock and vascular inflammation have been long-term research interests of Dr. Danner's section. Investigations have focused on endotoxin, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, stress kinase pathways and nuclear receptor signaling as targets for modulating the inflammatory response.

His most recent work includes the use of large clinical data sets to study severe infections and antimicrobial resistance, and basic science research on the pathobiology of vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Dr. Danner also directs the Functional Genomics Facility in the Critical Care Medicine Department at the NIH Clinical Center.

See his Intramural Research Program bio page.

• NIH Director's Award, in recognition of the Clinical Center Ebola response, 2015
• Director Challenge Award: "Engineering a Multivalent Bacteriophage Targeting KPC+ K. pneumonia," 2013
• Bench-to-Bedside Award: "Role of Androgen and Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension," 2011
• Society of Critical Care Medicine Presidential Citation for outstanding contributions, 2007-14
• Consumer's Research Council of America, top physician
• NIH Director's Award, 2006
• U.S. Public Health Service crisis response service award, Gulf Coast hurricanes, 2005
• USPHS Outstanding Unit Citation, 2003
• USPHS Outstanding Service Medal (clinical medicine and research), 2000
• American Federation for Clinical Research Henry Christian Award for abstract in immunology, 1999
• American Federation for Clinical Research Henry Christian Award for abstract in immunology, 1998
• USPHS Achievement Medal, 1997
• USPHS Commendation Medal, 1994
• Society of Critical Care Medicine Education Scholarship Award, 1993
• The AFCR Henry Christian Award poster presentation, 1991
• USPHS Commendation Medal, 1990
• Alpha Omega Alpha, 1979; Phi Beta Kappa, 1975

Journal Articles

Kadri SS, Swihart BJ, Bonne SL, Hohmann SF, Hennessy LV, Louras P, Evans HL, Rhee C, Suffredini AF, Hooper DC, Follmann DA, Bulger EM, Danner RL. Impact of intravenous immunoglobulin on survival in necrotizing fasciitis with vasopressor-dependent shock: a propensity score-matched analysis from 130 US hospitals. Clinical Infectious Diseases64:877-885, 2017.

Wang S, Dougherty EJ, Danner RL. PPARgamma signaling and emerging opportunities for improved therapeutics. Pharmacological Research111:76-85, 2016.

Dougherty EJ, Elinoff JM, Ferreyra GA, Hou A, Cai R, Sun J, Blaine KP, Wang S, Danner RL. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) trans-activation of inflammatory AP-1 signaling: dependence on DNA sequence, MR conformation, and AP-1 family member expression. Journal of Biological Chemistry 291:23628-23644, 2016.

Awad KS, Elinoff JM, Wang S, Gairhe S, Ferreyra GA, Cai R, Sun J, Solomon MA, Danner RL. Raf/ERK drives the proliferative and invasive phenotype of BMPR2-silenced pulmonary artery endothelial cells. American Journal Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 310:L187-201, 2016

Wang S, Awad KS, Elinoff JM, Dougherty EJ, Ferreyra GA, Wang JY, Cai R, Sun J, Ptasinska A, Danner RL. G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma): an integrated two-receptor signaling pathway. Journal of Biological Chemistry 290:19544–57,2015.

Kadri SS, Hohmann SF, Orav EJ, Bonne SL, Moffa MA, Timpone JG, Strich JR, Palmore T, Christopher KB, Varughese C, Hooper DC, Danner RL. Tracking colistin-treated patients to monitor the incidence and outcome of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative infections. Clinical Infectious Diseases 60:79-87, 2015.

Cortés-Puch I, Hicks CW, Sun J, Solomon SB, Eichacker PQ, Sweeney DA, Nieman LK, Whitley EM, Behrend EN, Natanson C, Danner RL. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in lethal canine Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism 307:E994-E1008, 2014.

Purev E, Winkler T, Danner RL, Fahle GA, Cook L, Zerr DM, Jerome KR, Childs RW. Engraftment of donor cells with germ-line integration of HHV6 mimics HHV6 reactivation following cord blood/haplo transplantation. Blood 124:1198-9, 2014.

Ronkainen S, Xie Y, Battiwalla M, Barrett AJ, Stock F, Dekker JP, Danner RL. Persistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a pulmonary nodule with late relapse. Transplant Infectious Disease 16:666-671, 2014.

Tropea MM, Harper BJ, Graninger GM, Phillips TM, Ferreyra G, Mostowski HS, Danner RL, Suffredini AF, Solomon MA. Isolation of a circulating CD45-, CD34dim cell population and validation of their endothelial phenotype. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 12:770-780, 2014.

Ferreyra GA, Elinoff JM, Demirkale CY, Starost MF, Buckley M, Munson PJ, Krakauer T, Danner RL. Late Multiple Organ Surge in Interferon-regulated Target Genes Characterizes Staphylococcal Exotoxin B Lethality. PLoS One 9:e88756, 2014.

Klebanoff CA, Spencer SP, Torabi-Parizi P, Grainger JR, Roychoudhuri R, Ji Y, Sukumar M, Muranski P, Scott CD, Hall JA, Ferreyra GA, Leonardi AJ, Borman ZA, Wang J, Palmer DC, Wilhelm C, Cai R, Sun J, Napoli JL, Danner RL, Gattinoni L, Belkaid Y, Restifo NP. Retinoic acid controls the homeostasis of pre-cDC-derived splenic and intestinal dendritic cells. Journal of Experimental Medicine 210:1961-1976, 2013.

Prasad P, Sun J, Danner RL, Natanson C. Excess deaths associated with tigecycline after approval based on noninferiority trials. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 54(12):1699-709, 2012.

Muranski P, Borman ZA, Kerkar SP, Klebanoff CA, Ji Y, Sanchez-Perez L, Sukumar M, Reger RN, Yu Z, Kern SJ, Roychoudhuri R, Ferreyra GA, Shen W, Durum SK, Feigenbaum L, Palmer DC, Antony PA, Chan CC, Laurence A, Danner RL, Gattinoni L, Restifo NP. Th17 cells are long lived and retain a stem cell-like molecular signature. Immunity 35:972-985, 2011.

Rame JE, Barouch LA, Sack MN, Lynn EG, Abu-Asab M, Tsokos M, Kern SJ, Barb JJ, Munson PJ, Halushka MK, Miller KL, Fox-Talbot K, Zhang J, Hare JM, Solomon MA, Danner RL. Caloric Restriction in Leptin Deficiency Does Not Correct Myocardial Steatosis: Failure to Normalize PPAR{alpha}/PGC1{alpha} and Thermogenic Glyecrolipid/Fatty Acid Cycling. Physiological Genomics 43(12):726-38, 2011.

Brochard L, Abroug F, Brenner M, Broccard AF, Danner RL, Ferrer M, Laghi F, Magder S, Papazian L, Pelosi P, Polderman KH. An Official ATS/ERS/ESICM/SCCM/SRLF Statement: Prevention and Management of Acute Renal Failure in the ICU Patient: an international consensus conference in intensive care medicine. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 181(10):1128-55, 2010.

Chhikara M, Wang S, Kern SJ, Ferreyra GA, Barb JJ, Munson PJ, Danner RL. Carbon monoxide blocks lipopolysaccharide-induced gene expression by interfering with proximal TLR4 to NF-kappa B signal transduction in human monocytes. PLoS One 4(12):e8139, 2009.

Hinrichs CS, Borman ZA, Cassard L, Gattinoni L, Spolski R, Yu Z, Sanchez-Perez L, Muranski P, Kern SJ, Logun C, Palmer DC, Ji Y, Reger RN, Leonard WJ, Danner RL, Rosenberg SA, Restifo NP. Adoptively transferred effector cells derived from naive rather than central memory CD8+ T cells mediate superior antitumor immunity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science U.S.A. 106(41):17469-74, 2009.

Wang S, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Kern S, Danner RL. Nitric oxide-p-38 MAPK signaling stabilizes mRNA through AU-rich element-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 83(4):982-90, 2008.

Oliveira JB, Bidere N, Niemela JE, Zheng L, Sakai K, Nix CP, Danner RL, Barb J, Munson PJ, Puck JM, Dale J, Straus SE, Fleisher TA, Lenardo MJ. NRAS mutation causes a human autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science U.S.A. 104(21):8953-8, 2007.

Raghavachari N, Xu X, Harris A, Villagra J, Logun C, Barb J, Solomon MA, Suffredini AF, Danner RL, Munson PJ, Kato G, Morris SM, Gladwin MT. Amplified expressions profiling of platelet transcriptome reveals changes in arginine metabolic pathways in patients with sickle cell disease. Circulation 115(2):1551-1562, 2007.

Ptasinka A, Wang S, Zhang J, Danner RL. Nitric Oxide activation of peroxisone proliferator activated receptor gamma through a p38 MAPK signaling pathway. FASEB Journal 21:950-961, 2007.

Zhang J, Wang S, Kern S, Cui X, Danner RL. Nitric oxide down-regulates polo-like kinase 1 through a proximal promoter cell cycle gene homology region. Journal of Biological Chemistry 282(2):1003-1009, 2006.

Eichaker PQ, Natanson C, Danner RL. Surviving sepsis-practice guidelines, marketing, campaigns, and Eli Lilly. New England Journal of Medicine 355(16):1640-1642, 2006.

Wang S, Zhang J, Theel S, Barb JJ, Munson PJ, Danner RL. Nitric Oxide activation of Erk 1/2 regulates the stability and translation of mRNA transcripts containing CU-rich elements. Nucleic Acids Research 34(10):3044-3056, 2006.

Talwar S, Munson PJ, Barb J, Fiuza C, Cintron AP, Logun C, Tropea M, Khan S, Reda D, Shelhamer JH, Danner RL, Suffredini AF. Gene Expression profiling of peripheral blood leukocytes after endotoxin challenge in humans. Physiological Genomics 25(2):203-215, 2006.

Cui X, Zhang J, Ma P, Myers DE, Goldberg IG, Sittler KJ, Barb JJ, Munson PJ, Cintron AP, McCoy JP, Wang S, Danner RL. cGMP-independent nitric oxide signaling and regulation of the cell cycle. BMC Genomics 6:151-169, 2005.

Jison ML, Munson PJ, Barb JJ, Suffredini AF, Talwar S, Logun C, Raghavachari N, Beigel JH, Shelhamer JH, Danner RL, Gladwin MT. Blood mononuclear cell gene expression profiles characterize the oxidant, hemolytic and inflammatory stress of sickle cell disease. Blood 104: 270-280, 2004.

Ma P, Cui X, Nishanian EV, Wang W, Zhang J, Wesely RA, Wang S, Danner RL. Nitric oxide post-transcriptionally up-regulates LPS-induced IL-8 gene expression through p38 MAPK activation. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 76: 278-287, 2004.

Zhang J, Wang S, Wesley RA, Danner RL. Adjacent sequence controls the response polarity of nitric oxide-sensitive Sp factor binding sites. Journal of Biological Chemistry 278:29192-29200, 2003.

Eichacker PQ, Parent C, Esposito C, Kalil A, Cui X, Banks SM, Gerstenberger EP, Danner RL, Natanson C. Risk and the efficacy of antiinflammatory agents: retrospective and confirmatory studies of sepsis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 166:1197-1205, 2002.

Wang W, Wang S, Nishanian EV, del Pilar Cintron A, Wesley RA, Danner RL. Signaling by eNOS through a superoxide-dependent p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology 281:C544-C554, 2001.

Wang W, Wang S, Yan L, Madara P, Cintron ADP, Wesley RA, Danner RL. Superoxide production and signaling by endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Journal of Biological Chemistry 274:16899-16903, 2000.

Wang S, Wang W, Wesley RA, Danner RL. A Sp1 binding site of the TNF-α promoter functions as a nitric oxide-response element. Journal of Biological Chemistry 274:33190-33193, 1999.

Vandivier RW, Eidsath A, Banks SM, Preas HL, Leighton SB, Godin PJ, Suffredini AF, and Danner RL. Down-regulation of nitric oxide production by ibuprofen in human volunteers. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 289:1398-1403, 1999.

Yan L, Wang S, Rafferty SP, Wesley RA, Danner RL. Endogenously produced nitric oxide increases tumor necrosis factor-a production in transfected human U937 cells. Blood 90:1160-1167, 1997.

Sevransky JE, Shaked G, Novogrodsky A, Levitzki A, Gazit A, Hoffman A, Elin RJ, Quezado ZMN, Freeman BD, Eichacker PQ, Danner RL, Banks SM, Bacher J, Thomas ML III, and Natanson C: Tyrphostin AG 556 improves survival and reduces multiorgan failure in canine Escherichia coli peritonitis. Journal of Clinical Investigation 99: 1966-1973, 1997.

Wang S, Yan L, Wesley RA, Danner RL. Nitric oxide increases tumor necrosis factor production in differentiated U937 cells by decreasing cAMP. Journal of Biological Chemistry 272(9): 5959-5965, 1997.

Yan L, Vandivier RW, Suffredini AF, Danner RL. Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes lack detectable nitric oxide synthase activity. Journal of Immunology 153:1825-1834, 1994.

Danner RL. Nitric oxide: a therapeutic target in sepsis. In: Natanson C, moderator. Selected treatment strategies for septic shock based on proposed mechanisms of pathogenesis. Annals of Internal Medicine 120:771-783, 1994.

Van Dervort AL, Yan L, Madara PJ, Cobb JP, Wesley RA, Corriveau CC, Tropea MM, Danner RL. Nitric oxide regulates endotoxin-induced TNF-α production in human neutrophils. Journal of Immunology 152:4102-4109, 1994.

Quezado ZMN, Natanson C, Alling DW, Banks SM, Koev CA, Elin RJ, Hosseini JM, Bacher JD, Danner RL, Hoffman WD. A controlled trial of HA-1A in a canine model of gram-negative septic shock. Journal of the American Medical Association 269:2221-2227, 1993.

Taveira da Silva AM, Kaulbach H, Chuidian F, Lambert D, Suffredini AF, Danner RL. Shock and multiple organ dysfunction caused by self-administration of Salmonella minnesota endotoxin. New England Journal of Medicine 328:1457-1460, 1993.

Cobb JP, Natanson C, Hoffman WD, Lodato RF, Banks SM, Koev LA, Solomon M, Elin RJ, Hosseini JM, Danner RL. NW-amino-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, raises vascular resistance but increases mortality rates in awake canines challenged with endotoxin. Journal of Experimental Medicine 176:1175-1189, 1992.

Van Dervort AL, Doerfler ME, Stuetz PL, Danner RL. Antagonism of lipopolysaccharide-induced priming of human neutrophils by lipid A analogs. Journal of Immunology 149:359-366, 1992.

Warren SW, Danner RL, Munford RS. Anti-endotoxin monoclonal antibodies. New England Journal of Medicine 326:1153-1157, 1992.

Martich GD, Danner RL, Ceska M, Suffredini AF. Detection of interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor in normal humans following intravenous endotoxin: The effect of anti-inflammatory agents. Journal of Experimental Medicine 173:1021-1024, 1991.

Danner RL, Elin RJ, Wesley RA, Reilly JM, Hosseini JM, Parrillo JE. Endotoxemia in human septic shock. Chest 99:169-175, 1991.

Doerfler ME, Danner RL, Shelhamer JH, Parrillo JE. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides prime human neutrophils for enhanced production of leukotriene B4. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 83:970-977, 1989.

Natanson C, Eichenholz PW, Danner RL, Eichacker PQ, Hoffman WD, Kuo GC, Banks SM, MacVittie TJ, Parrillo JE. Endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor challenges in dogs simulate the cardiovascular profile of human septic shock. Journal of Experimental Medicine 169:823-832, 1989.

Natanson C, Danner RL, Elin RJ, Hosseini JM, Peart KW, MacVittie TJ, Walker RI, Parrillo JE. The role of endotoxemia in cardiovascular dysfunction and mortality. E. coli and S. aureus challenges in a canine model of human septic shock. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 83:243-251, 1989.

Danner RL, Joiner KA, Parrillo JE. The inhibition of endotoxin induced priming of human neutrophils by lipid X and 3-aza-lipid X. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 80:605-612, 1987.

Visit PubMed.gov for a full list of Dr. Danner's publications.